The former home of a corporate titan is blossoming into a new purpose, thanks to a north Arkansas nonprofit.
In September, the city of Bentonville approved a plan to transform an estate once owned by Walmart co-founder James “Bud” Walton into a public botanical garden.
The Peel Compton Foundation, a charity dedicated to preserving “the uniqueness of Northwest Arkansas,” according to its website, proposed the plan and will oversee the construction and management of the gardens.
“When the opportunity arose to acquire the Bud Walton home and its surrounding green space, it was a natural extension of our mission and an exciting opportunity to continue that legacy of preservation,” Peel Compton director of marketing Alyssa Traxson said in an email to Homes.com.
Plans for the 4.11-acre estate are still in the early stages, with no designs released yet and no timeline for completion, according to Traxson. However, the organization does plan to include the 2,930-square-foot home that sits on the property into the eventual garden design.
“Our priority is to be deliberate and thoughtful as we shape the vision and long-term plan for the property,” Traxson wrote. “Our greatest focus has been ensuring that every step of this process reflects the foundation’s commitment to intentional and sustainable planning. We want to honor the history of the property while creating a space that will serve and inspire the community for generations to come.”
Nonprofit has history with gardens
Peel Compton has developed other public garden attractions, including the Compton Gardens and Arboretum and the Peel Museum and Botanical Garden, which was developed from a residence built in 1875.
Other Peel Compton projects include the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, Osage Park and the Quiver Archery Range.
“[L]ike all Peel Compton Foundation properties, this space will be open and accessible to the public and will offer new opportunities for community engagement and educational programming,” Traxson said.
Bud Walton helped launch the retail giant with his brother, Sam Walton.
The home was built in 1938, according to Benton County records. The sales history for the property is incomplete, but Walton reportedly bought the house in 1980. He died in 1995.
A company related to the Walton family purchased the property in 2020 for $8 million, according to county records. It was transferred for free to Peel Compton in July.